Emperor Guangwen of Han Zhao

Emperor Guangwen of Han Zhao (died 19 August 310), born Liu Yuan, was Emperor of Han Zhao from 304 to 19 August 310, preceding Emperor Zhaowu of Han Zhao. Liu Yuan was a descendant of Emperor Liu Bang of the Han dynasty as well as Xiongnu chanyus, and he used his royal descent to fabricate a claim on the throne of China. However, he failed to conquer the Jin dynasty, leading to the fragmentation of China into barbarian kingdoms.

Biography
Liu Yuan was a Xiongnu nobleman and descendant of the chanyus, including Modu Chanyu and his wife, Emperor Liu Bang of the Han dynasty's daughter. His father was Liu Bao, a Southern Xiongnu chanyu and the son of Yu Fuluo, and his mother was concubine Lady Huyan. Liu Yuan was a subject of Cao Wei and then the Eastern Jin, but the War of the Eight Princes allowed for Liu Yuan to rise to power. Offered the title of "Grand Chanyu" by other Xiongnu princes, he marched to Sima Ying's help with 50,000 troops, but Sima Ying fled to Luoyang rather than wait for Liu Yuan's army, and Liu Yuan decided to declare himself independent of Jin. He took on the title of "Emperor Guangwen of Han Zhao", a new barbarian kingdom in China, using his descent from Liu Bang to legitimize his claims.

Unfortunately, Emperor Guangwen was unable to expand his sphere of influence, and he failed to restore the Han dynasty's system of government. He set Luliang in Shanxi as his capital and managed to defeat the Jin armies on the battlefield, but he could not hold his cities from the Jin armies. Some Wu Hu tribesmen flocked to his banner, and he largely entrusted command of his armies to Liu Cong, his son. Most Jin generals opposing his sons were defeated, but in 308 he failed to conquer the Jin capital of Luoyang, and he died in 310.